PLANS for Melksham’s Health and Wellbeing Centre are currently on schedule, with the appointment of a design team who will deliver the final design concept by April.
At the Melksham Area Board meeting last week, cllr John Thomson, deputy leader of Wiltshire Council and cabinet member for leisure, said that the project is “moving ahead and is on time.”
Updating the community, cllr Thomson said, “We have now appointed a project team and we have also re-engaged the original architects. So that is a very positive thing. The final site plan can now be progressed to the detailed design and planning stage and it is still on course to be submitted to planning this summer.”
Further updates included the news that two of the tennis courts at the Melksham House site will be resurfaced to allow the club to continue playing there in the short term.
The outdoor bowls club were told that solicitors have drawn up a lease for their consideration, which will allow them to operate independently, once in place.
Cllr Thomson also confirmed that Wiltshire Council remain committed to the indoor bowls club in supporting them to find “an achievable solution.”
Cllr Thomson said, “We’ve put in £150,000 into the pot for match funding for them (the indoor bowls club) and we’ve designated some land for them at the site for an indoor bowls facility, subject to funding being secured. I know that’s quite a challenge.”
At the meeting, cllr Thomson fielded a number of questions from Melksham residents including one on how much is left from the original £23million budget for the health and wellbeing centre.
Refusing to reveal the remaining budget, cllr Thomson said, “I’ve answered that in a evasive way, as the original budget is £23million and I don’t really want to go and tell all the contractors that may be bidding how much I have got left in the bank.”
The next area board meeting will be held on Wednesday 11th April when it is hoped the final concept design of the centre will be presented.
Estimated Timeline
Final design concept Feb – April 2018
Cost plan 1 March – April 2018
Update surveys Feb – Jun 2018
Developed design and Planning information April – July 2018
Cost plan 2 June – July 2018
Wiltshire review scheme: Final sign-off June – July 2018
Planning July 2018 – Jan 2019
OJEU process tender Main contractor Oct 2018 – April 2019
Review and Award of contract April – June 2019
Mobilisation period June 2019
Construction commences July 2019
18-month build process Until Jan 21
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